U.S. patent application number 15/383227 was filed with the patent office on 2017-06-29 for shopping cart display.
The applicant listed for this patent is Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.. Invention is credited to Greg Bryan, Eric Anthony Letson, John Paul Thompson.
Application Number | 20170186073 15/383227 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 59087188 |
Filed Date | 2017-06-29 |
United States Patent
Application |
20170186073 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Bryan; Greg ; et
al. |
June 29, 2017 |
SHOPPING CART DISPLAY
Abstract
A shopping cart communication system comprises a shopping cart
including a head up display, the head up display operable by a
mobile electronic device and a retailer application executed on the
mobile electronic device that communicates with the head up
display, and generates display data for output to and display at
the head up display.
Inventors: |
Bryan; Greg; (Bentonville,
AR) ; Thompson; John Paul; (Bentonville, AR) ;
Letson; Eric Anthony; (Bentonville, AR) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. |
Bentonville |
AR |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
59087188 |
Appl. No.: |
15/383227 |
Filed: |
December 19, 2016 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
62387542 |
Dec 24, 2015 |
|
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G06F 3/14 20130101; G06F
3/147 20130101; G06Q 30/0633 20130101; G06Q 30/0643 20130101 |
International
Class: |
G06Q 30/06 20060101
G06Q030/06; G06F 3/14 20060101 G06F003/14 |
Claims
1. A shopping cart communication system, comprising: a shopping
cart including a head up display, the head up display operable by a
mobile electronic device; and a retailer application executed on
the mobile electronic device that communicates with the head up
display, and generates display data for output to and display at
the head up display.
2. The shopping cart communication system of claim 1, wherein the
head up display includes an extension to the mobile electronic
device for operating only in response to the display data received
from the mobile electronic device.
3. The shopping cart communication system of claim 1, wherein the
head up display includes a touchscreen.
4. The shopping cart communication system of claim 1, wherein the
head up display is removably attached to a handle or basket portion
of the shopping cart in a field of vision of a shopper behind the
shopping cart handle, wherein a first region of the head up display
provides a transparent or semi-transparent line of sight for the
shopper, and wherein a second region of the head up display
provides a display of the display data.
5. The shopping cart communication system of claim 1, wherein the
head up display displays images via an embedded pico projector or
via a semi-transparent liquid crystal display (LCD) technology.
6. The shopping cart communication system of claim 1, wherein a
user of the shopping cart users the mobile electronic device to
display content on the head up display via an ecommerce application
installed and executed on the mobile electronic device.
7. The shopping cart communication system of claim 1, wherein the
head up display is not an intelligent device and requires the
mobile electronic device to function.
8. The shopping cart communication system of claim 1, wherein the
mobile electronic device communicates with the head up display via
Bluetooth.TM., WiFi, or USB-based connection.
9. The shopping cart communication system of claim 1, further
comprising a docking station on the shopping cart for holding the
mobile electronic device in communication with the head up
display.
10. The shopping cart communication system of claim 1, wherein the
head up display is removably coupled to a handle or basket of the
shopping cart.
11. The shopping cart communication system of claim 1, further
comprising a server that communicates with the retail application
on the mobile electronic device to provide data to the mobile
electronic device, wherein the display data is generated in
response to the data received by the mobile electronic device from
the server.
12. The shopping cart communication system of claim 1, further
comprising a charging system that produces power from motion of the
shopping cart wheels, and provides the power to the head up
display.
13. A shopping cart, comprising: a frame; a handle; a set of wheels
coupled to the frame; a basket; and a head up display removably or
permanently coupled to the handle, basket, or frame, the head up
display operable only by a mobile electronic device, wherein the
head up display displays data received by the mobile electronic
device.
14. The shopping cart of claim 13, wherein the head up display
includes an extension to the mobile electronic device for operating
only in response to the display data received from the mobile
electronic device.
15. The shopping cart of claim 13, wherein the head up display is
in a field of vision of a shopper behind the shopping cart handle,
wherein a first region of the head up display provides a
transparent or semi-transparent line of sight for the shopper, and
wherein a second region of the head up display provides a display
of the display data.
16. A method, comprising: coupling a head up display to a shopping
cart; executing an application at a mobile electronic device;
providing a result of the executed application to the head up
display; and activating the head up display in response to the
received result, and projecting an image from the data at a first
region of the display.
17. The method of claim 16, wherein a user has a line of sight
through a second region of the head up display.
Description
RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent
Application No. 62/387,542, filed Dec. 24, 2015 and entitled
"Shopping Cart Display," the entirety of which is incorporated by
reference herein.
FIELD
[0002] The present inventive concepts relate generally to shopping
cart displays, and more specifically, to a head-up display (HUD)
operating in a shopping environment.
BACKGROUND
[0003] Store customers often use their personal mobile devices such
as smartphones while shopping.
BRIEF SUMMARY
[0004] In one aspect, provided is a shopping cart communication
system, comprising: a shopping cart including a head up display,
the head up display operable by a mobile electronic device; and a
retailer application executed on the mobile electronic device that
communicates with the head up display, and generates display data
for output to and display at the head up display.
[0005] In some embodiments, the head up display includes an
extension to the mobile electronic device for operating only in
response to the display data received from the mobile electronic
device.
[0006] In some embodiments, the head up display includes a
touchscreen.
[0007] In some embodiments, the head up display is removably
attached to a handle or basket portion of the shopping cart in a
field of vision of a shopper behind the shopping cart handle, a
first region of the head up display provides a transparent or
semi-transparent line of sight for the shopper, and a second region
of the head up display provides a display of the display data.
[0008] In some embodiments, the head up display displays images via
an embedded pico projector or via a semi-transparent liquid crystal
display (LCD) technology.
[0009] In some embodiments, a user of the shopping cart users the
mobile electronic device to display content on the head up display
via an ecommerce application installed and executed on the mobile
electronic device.
[0010] In some embodiments, the head up display is not an
intelligent device and requires the mobile electronic device to
function.
[0011] In some embodiments, the mobile electronic device
communicates with the head up display via Bluetooth.TM., WiFi, or
USB-based connection.
[0012] In some embodiments, the system further comprises a docking
station on the shopping cart for holding the mobile electronic
device in communication with the head up display.
[0013] In some embodiments, the head up display is removably
coupled to a handle or basket of the shopping cart.
[0014] In some embodiments, the shopping cart communication system
further comprises a server that communicates with the retail
application on the mobile electronic device to provide data to the
mobile electronic device, wherein the display data is generated in
response to the data received by the mobile electronic device from
the server.
[0015] In some embodiments, the shopping cart communication system
further comprises a charging system that produces power from motion
of the shopping cart wheels, and provides the power to the head up
display.
[0016] In another aspect, provided is a shopping cart, comprising a
frame; a handle; a set of wheels coupled to the frame; a basket;
and a head up display removably or permanently coupled to the
handle, basket, or frame, the head up display operable only by a
mobile electronic device, wherein the head up display displays data
received by the mobile electronic device.
[0017] In some embodiments, the head up display includes an
extension to the mobile electronic device for operating only in
response to the display data received from the mobile electronic
device.
[0018] In some embodiments, the head up display is in a field of
vision of a shopper behind the shopping cart handle, wherein a
first region of the head up display provides a transparent or
semi-transparent line of sight for the shopper, and wherein a
second region of the head up display provides a display of the
display data.
[0019] In another aspect, provided is method, comprising: coupling
a head up display to a shopping cart; executing an application at a
mobile electronic device; providing a result of the executed
application to the head up display; and activating the head up
display in response to the received result, and projecting an image
from the data at a first region of the display.
[0020] In some embodiments, a user has a line of sight through a
second region of the head up display.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS
[0021] The above and further advantages may be better understood by
referring to the following description in conjunction with the
accompanying drawings, in which like numerals indicate like
structural elements and features in various figures. The drawings
are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon
illustrating the principles of the concepts.
[0022] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a shopping cart, in
accordance with some embodiments.
[0023] FIG. 2 is a view of a mobile electronic device communicating
with a HUD apparatus, in accordance with some embodiments.
[0024] FIG. 3 is a diagram of a method for display at a shopping
cart, in accordance with some embodiments.
[0025] FIG. 4 is a flow diagram illustrating an operation involving
a shopping cart display, in accordance with some embodiments.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0026] It is difficult for store customers to use their smartphones
while pushing a shopping cart. Accordingly, embodiments of the
present inventive concepts can improve a store customer's shopping
experience by configuring a head up display (HUD) on a shopping
cart to communicate with the customer's personal mobile device such
as a smartphone, tablet, notebook, laptop computer, and so on, and
for providing an additional display for content generated at mobile
device. The HUD relies on the processing power of the shopper's
mobile electronic device, which executes a shopping application,
and outputs the result to the HUD for display. The HUD cannot
operate on its own, and requires the mobile electronic device in
order to serve as an extension of a retailer application executed
at the mobile electronic device or other in-store generated
application.
[0027] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a shopping cart 10, in
accordance with some embodiments. The shopping cart 10 may include
well-known components such as a handle 102, basket 104 attached to
a base 108, wheels also attached to the base 108, and so on.
[0028] A HUD apparatus 110 may be attached to the shopping cart 10.
In some embodiments, the HUD apparatus 110 is removably coupled to
the shopping cart 10. In other embodiments, the HUD apparatus 110
is mounted or otherwise permanently affixed to the shopping cart
10. The HUD apparatus 110 can be positioned at a rear region of the
basket 104. Alternatively, the HUD apparatus 110 can be positioned
at a front region of the basket 104, or coupled to the handle 102,
or positioned anywhere on the shopping cart 10 such that the
viewable area of the display is in a field of vision of a user of
the shopping cart 10. The HUD apparatus 110 can be coupled to a
hinged device or other mechanical components so that the HUD
apparatus 110 can be moved relative to a position on the shopping
cart 10, for example, swivel about an axis along which a rod
extends from the cart 10. The HUD apparatus 110 can be constructed
and arranged for a small footprint, for example, folded behind a
child seat (not shown) on the shopping cart 10.
[0029] In some embodiments, the HUD apparatus 110 is a
semitransparent display, or partially transparent or see-through
display, so that the screen can display data that is projected onto
it while allowing a viewer to see through the screen and obtain a
view of the other side of the screen (similar to an automobile
windshield). In some embodiments, the HUD apparatus 110 is part of
a transparent flexible liquid crystal display (LCD) or laser
projection unit, for example, integrated laser-based pico projector
or related handheld projector, which projects an image provided by
a mobile electronic device. In some embodiments, the HUD apparatus
110 includes a touchscreen. For example, a user can press an icon
or graphical representation on the HUD scree, which triggers a
communication with the mobile electronic device.
[0030] A HUD interface 111 provides for communication to be
established between the HUD apparatus 110 and a mobile electronic
device, which outputs data for display on the HUD apparatus 110.
The HUD interface 111 permits the HUD apparatus 110 to receive data
from the mobile electronic device via cable or wireless
communication such as Bluetooth.TM. or the like. Display data is
first generated at the mobile electronic device, for example, by an
application executed at the mobile electronic device, then output
to the HUD apparatus 110. The same data may be displayed on a
display screen on the mobile electronic device. In some
embodiments, a USB interface or the like can be coupled to the
shopping cart 10 for providing data from an electronic device, for
example, a mobile electronic device, laptop computer, notebook, and
so on.
[0031] The shopping cart 10 may include a camera 112, a scanning
device 114 (e.g., barcode, QR, and so on), and/or other electronic
devices such as sensors or the like that may receive an input and
provide the input to the mobile electronic device where it may be
processed, then displayed at the HUD apparatus 110. For example,
the camera 112 may provide data of an image of interest to the
mobile electronic device, which processes the image data, and
outputs the image data to the HUD apparatus 110 for display. In
some embodiments, the camera, scanning device, and/or other sensors
can be part of the mobile electronic device, which provides data
input via the camera, sensor, and so on to the shopping cart 10 via
the HUD interface 110. The shopping cart 10 may include but not be
limited to other devices for gathering data used by the shopper's
smartphone or other electronic device for generating an output for
display at the HUD apparatus 110, for example, a beacon reader,
near field communication (NFC) reader, barcode scanner, and so
on.
[0032] In some embodiments, the shopping cart 10 can include a
docking station 113, or dock holder, for holding the mobile
electronic device in communication with the HUD apparatus 110. The
HUD apparatus 110 can receive power from a battery 118, for
example, located at the base 108 as shown, or at the handle 102, or
elsewhere on the shopping cart 10. Alternatively or additionally,
power may be generated by a charging system, for example, a voltage
generator which produces power from motion of the shopping cart
wheels 106. The charging system may charge the battery 118, which
in turn powers the HUD apparatus 110, or provide power directly to
the HUD apparatus 110.
[0033] In accordance with some embodiments, the shopping cart 10
and mobile electronic device 12, or more specifically, retail
applications, e-commerce applications, or other applications part
of a shopping experience executed at the device 12 are part of a
shopping cart communication system. One or more computer servers 14
may be part of the system, for providing data to the mobile
electronic device 12 and/or the HUD apparatus 110. For example, the
mobile electronic device may request and receive location data via
GPS or the like, which can be displayed at the HUD apparatus 110. A
feature is that the HUD apparatus 110 relies on the mobile
electronic device 12 for processing functions, and displays a
result of the processing functions performed at the mobile
electronic device 12.
[0034] FIG. 2 is a view of a mobile electronic device 12
communicating with a shopping cart HUD apparatus 110, in accordance
with some embodiments.
[0035] As shown, the HUD apparatus 110 includes a display screen
202 that displays data projected onto a region 204 of the display.
A viewer can view 201 images generated from data executed at the
mobile device 12. The viewer can also see through another region of
the display screen 202 for viewing 203 objects, scenery, etc. on
the other side of the HUD apparatus 110, similar to a glass window.
In other words, operations performed on the mobile electronic
device 12 are reflected on the display of the HUD apparatus 110.
Accordingly, a store customer can view data displayed on the HUD
apparatus 110 without diverting attention from the view through the
transparent region of the HUD apparatus 110.
[0036] The mobile electronic device 12 may communicate with the HUD
apparatus, or more specifically, interface 111, via Bluetooth.TM.
or related communication protocol. More specifically, the mobile
electronic device 12 stores and executes a retailer application
that when executed establishes an electronic communication with the
HUD apparatus 110.
[0037] FIG. 3 is a method 300 for display at a shopping cart, in
accordance with some embodiments. Some or all of the method 300 can
be performed at a shopping cart 10 and/or mobile electronic device
12 illustrated at FIGS. 1 and 2.
[0038] At block 302, a semitransparent display, for example, a HUD,
pico projector, and so on, is coupled to a shopping cart. The
display can be positioned on the shopping cart so that a user of
the shopping cart can see through the display, or have a line of
sight, similar to an automobile windshield, when moving the
shopping cart, for example, positioning the display at a front of
the basket of the shopping cart, or along the handle of the
shopping cart. In other embodiments, the display is not along a
line of sight of the shopping cart user positioned at and holding
the handle of the shopping cart, but is instead positioned along a
side of the shopping cart basket, below the handle, or positioned
at another region of the shopping cart.
[0039] At block 304, an application is executed at a mobile
electronic device. The application may relate to a shopping
application. Examples may include but not be limited to a shopping
list, in store navigation guides and waypoints, product
information, nutritional information, item reviews, recipe
suggestions, advertisements and promotions, analytic data, for
example, shopping patterns, tracking information, e-commerce, point
of sale or payment, and so on. The mobile device 12 and/or shopping
cart 10 may include sensors or other input/output devices for
receiving signals that may be used by the application for executing
the application. For example, a camera on the mobile electronic
device 12 may capture an image of an item, which is processed by an
application executed at the mobile device 12. In another example,
information regarding a store item may be received by scanning a QR
code, whereby a shopping application on the phone processes the
received data on the QR code to obtain information about the item
stored at a database.
[0040] In other example, devices on the shopping cart 10 may
establish a current location of the shopping cart 10 in the store.
The customer's mobile device can execute traffic system software,
whereby a traffic system result is displayed at the HUD apparatus
110 for informing a customer of the locations of other shoppers in
the store, for example, a large group of shoppers congregated at
the meat counter. This may be achieved by each shopper's cart
and/or mobile device sending location information such as speed and
location information to a central tracking system (not shown).
[0041] At block 306, the executed data is provided from the mobile
electronic device to the semitransparent display for display.
Referring to the previous example, the image of the item executed
by the mobile device application may be output to the HUD 110 for
display. At block 308, the image is projected on a region of the
semitransparent display.
[0042] FIG. 4 is a flow diagram illustrating an operation involving
a shopping cart display, in accordance with some embodiments. In
describing the operation, reference is made to elements of FIGS. 1
and 2.
[0043] At block 402, a customer enters a store, and receives a
shopping cart and HUD-enabled shopping cart.
[0044] At block 404, the customer executes a retailer application
on the customer's smartphone or related mobile electronic device.
The retailer application is configured to communicate with the HUD.
The retailer application when executed may perform one or more
shopping-related functions, such as but not limited to a shopping
list generator, point of sale application, navigation application,
marketing/ promotions, and other well-known e-commerce
applications. Accordingly, at block 406, the application generates
a request to establish an electronic communication with the
shopping cart HUD in order to provide data to the HUD. At block
408, a communication protocol, such as Bluetooth.TM. or the like,
is activated on the shopping cart for the HUD. At block 410, the
customer can receive a message on the mobile electronic device
requesting that the customer accept or reject an electronic
connection, for example, a Bluetooth.TM. pairing, between the
mobile electronic device and the shopping cart HUD.
[0045] At block 412, the customer can execute a shopping
application at the mobile electronic device, such as a shopping
list generator.
[0046] At block 414, the e-commerce application communicates with
the shopping cart HUD.
[0047] At block 416, an output of the data generated by the
shopping application is displayed at the shopping cart HUD. For
example, shopping list items, navigation details, maps, promotions,
and so on may be generated at the customer's smartphone and
displayed at the HUD. Other functions may be performed, such as
generating analytics related to shopping patterns of the customer
by tracking the customer's shopping list as the customer searches
for items on the list in the store. Analytic result data may also
be displayed at the HUD apparatus.
[0048] For example, an e-commerce application executed on the
shopper's smartphone may include an analytic processor, or
communicate with a separate analytic system, to determine items
that the customer is looking for, either by an item listed on the
shopping list or by the customer requesting for a map to the item.
Data collected may be used to form a layout of the store configured
for the customer, for example, including navigation details
providing an expedient path from the shopper's current location to
the items of interest.
[0049] While concepts have been shown and described with reference
to specific preferred embodiments, it should be understood by those
skilled in the art that various changes in form and detail may be
made therein without departing from the spirit and scope as defined
by the following claims.
* * * * *